Ick! What’s that awful taste? Dog medicine can taste bitter, making it a hard pill to swallow. Here are some tricky tips that will hide the bad taste and keep your dog from spitting it up.
Whether it is your dog’s monthly heartworm pills or some other type of medication, getting your dog to take a pill can be tough. Forcing the pill down your dog’s throat can be unpleasant for both of you, not to mention the fact that your dog might accidentally bite you or he could choke. To make the process easier on both of you, consider hiding your dog’s medicine in some kind of food or treat.
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Foods to Use in Hiding Medication
When it comes to hiding your dog’s medication in food, there are a number of different things you can try. The best foods to use have a strong odor and flavor. The odor and flavor of the food will help to further disguise the pill so your dog doesn’t even notice that he is taking it. Some of the best foods to use in disguising medication for your dog include meatballs, cheese, lunch meat, butter, and peanut butter. If your dog likes vegetables, you may even be able to hide the pill in a bowl of steamed veggies so your dog will eat it without even noticing. Another option is to crush or hide the pill then mix it with peanut butter, yogurt, cheese, or some other creamy food so your dog will lick it off a spoon.
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Homemade Pill Pockets
If trying the foods listed above doesn’t work for you, you may want to try making your own homemade pill pockets. These are especially useful if you have to give your dog medication on a regular basis – you can make a lot of them at once and have them on hand when you need them. To make homemade pill pockets, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir well until it forms a sort of dough. Then, pinch off small pieces of dough (about 1 tablespoon) and roll it into a ball. Use your finger to poke into the center of the ball, forming a depression that doesn’t poke through to the other side. Store the pill pockets in the refrigerator or freezer and when it comes time to give your dog his medication, simply push the pill into the depression and offer the treat to your dog.
Other Tips for Giving Medication to Dogs
If absolutely everything else fails, you may have to physically force your dog to take the medication. To do so safely, hold the pill on one hand and use that hand to hold your dog’s lower jaw. With the other hand, hold your dog’s upper jaw and lift his head so his nose points toward the ceiling. Carefully open your dog’s mouth (keeping your fingers away from his teeth) and insert the pill into your dog’s mouth as far back as you can on the side of his tongue. Immediately remove your hand then close your dog’s jaws and gently keep them closed. Stroke your dog’s jaw in a downward motion to encourage him to swallow – when he does, offer him a tasty treat and release him.
How do you get your dog to take medication? What tricky ways do you find work best? Leave your tips in the comment section below.
